Credit cards for bad credit

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Hear from our editors: Best easier-approval credit cards of January 2023

Updated January 3, 2023

This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.

Editorial note: Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.

Written by: Ben Luthi

When your credit history needs some work, getting a decent credit card isn’t easy.

But just because you’re building or rebuilding credit, it doesn’t mean you have to settle for a bad card with steep fees. Here are some standout alternatives.

• Best for rewards: Discover it® Secured Credit Card
• Best for college students: Deserve® EDU Mastercard
• Best for prequalification: Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit
• Best for limited credit: Capital One Platinum Credit Card
• Best for no credit: Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card

Best for rewards: Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Here’s why: This card offers rewards on every purchase you make.

The Discover it® Secured Credit Card offers 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 spent in combined purchases each quarter (then 1% once the quarterly cap is met). Plus you’ll get 1% back on all other purchases. Discover’s Cashback Match feature will match all of the cash back earned at the end of new cardholders’ first year, too.

While the card requires a security deposit of at least $200, Discover may refund your deposit after you’ve had the card for as little as seven months.

The card has a $0 annual fee and foreign transaction fee. That said, Discover isn’t accepted everywhere, so it’s a good idea to have a backup payment method if you take it abroad.

Read our editorial review of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card to find out if it’s right for you.

Best for college students: Deserve® EDU Mastercard

Here’s why: The Deserve® EDU Mastercard doesn’t require a credit history, or even a Social Security number if you’re an international student.

If you qualify for the card, you’ll get a free year of Amazon Prime Student when you spend $500 in the first three billing cycles using the card — plus 1% cash back on every purchase you make. Plus when you pay your cellphone bill with the card, you’ll get up to $600 in coverage if your phone gets stolen or damaged. You’ll get all that with a $0 annual fee. There’s also $0 foreign transaction fee, making it a solid choice if you’re planning to study abroad or head back home to another country.

If you’re a college student looking for a credit card, read our full review of the Deserve® EDU Mastercard to learn more.

Best for prequalification: Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit

Here’s why: If you have your heart set on an unsecured credit card but you’re concerned about your ability to qualify, the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit may be a good fit.

If you apply on its website, Credit One Bank makes it easy to see if you prequalify — and the prequalification process doesn’t affect your credit. Knowing whether you prequalify before you apply could save you from an unnecessary ding from a hard inquiry on your credit scores.

This card also comes with regular credit limit reviews, which could help you build credit by decreasing your utilization if you qualify for a higher credit line and keep your spending the same.

Plus, you’ll earn 1% cash back rewards on eligible purchases, which is automatically applied as a statement credit.

Watch out, though: This card comes with an annual fee of $75 for the first year, $99 thereafter.

Best for limited credit: Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Here’s why: The Capital One Platinum Credit Card can help you establish a positive credit history, all with a $0 annual fee.

The card doesn’t have a lot of frills — there’s no rewards program or sign-up bonus. But if building credit is your priority, you can look forward to better rewards later.

The card offers the prospect of a higher credit line after six months. As you’re building credit, having a higher credit limit can help your credit utilization rate (your balance divided by your credit limit). The lower the utilization rate, the better.

The card also doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee. And since it’s a Mastercard, you shouldn’t have much trouble finding merchants that accept it while abroad.

Read our editorial review of the Capital One Platinum Credit Card to decide if it’s right for you.

Best for no credit: Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card

Here’s why: The Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card eliminates the credit Catch-22: needing a credit history to get approved for credit but not being able to establish a credit history without credit.

If you’ve never used credit before, the card’s issuer makes its decision based on how financially responsible you are, making it a great first credit card.

Specifically, the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card has you connect your bank accounts to see how much you earn, and how you spend and save money. If the issuer determines that you’re a good fit based on how you manage your money, you’ll be approved.

If you do get approved, you can qualify for a credit limit of $300 to $10,000. The card also comes with an annual fee of $0 and you won’t pay any other fees with the card whatsoever.

The Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card app not only gives you access to your account on the go, but also shows you how much interest you’ll pay on a purchase if you don’t pay your balance in full each month. This can help you manage your finances and build your credit in the process.

While you’re working on building your credit, you can also earn cash back rewards with the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card. The card offers 1% cash back on all purchases as soon as your account opens, and after making on-time payments you can earn up to 1.5% cash back.

Read our editorial review of the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card to get more details.

How we picked these cards

There are plenty of easier-approval credit cards out there, but some of them charge sky-high fees or limit where you can use them. As a result, we focused on credit cards that can help you build credit without raiding your wallet.

More specifically, we looked at cards that charge low or no annual fees, offer rewards without restrictions and have features that make it easier to build your credit history.

How to make the most of easier-approval credit cards

These credit cards are relatively easy to get, but they’re not meant to be held onto for too long. Once you get your card, start using it to build your credit history. Be sure to make your payments on time every month, and consider paying the balance in full to avoid paying interest.

Also, keep your balance relatively low to maintain a good credit utilization rate. You can do this by using the card sparingly or making multiple payments each month.

Once you have a solid credit history and credit scores, you can apply for an unsecured card.